Trials of a Victorian business woman!

Is This Real or Just Pretend? by Emily Sullivan   

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Lucien Taylor returns from Paris after some years to visit his father, head groom at the wealthy Atkinson’s country home. Lucien ran a very successful supper club in Paris which unfortunately hit some financial snags.

When he’d left Winifred (Freddie) Atkinson had been the object of Lucien’s adoration. Freddie hadn’t even noticed him. That hurt.

It was Alexandra (Alex) Atkinson who told him to go far away from there where he could be whomever he wanted to be. He did just that.

Alex has meanwhile been the driving force behind her father’s company, Atkinson Enterprises. She needs to be on the Board. Now there’s an opportunity for her to do just that but unfortunately the Board doesn’t understand her contributions to the company. Alex’s father feels that if she were married there would be no bar to her.

Alex proposes that Lucien become engaged to her as a part of her move towards Board membership. In return she will help him start a supper club in London. It’s a mutually advantageous business arrangement. Or is it? Alex draws up a contract 🤣

Alex feels like an unnoticed spinster and is treated like that by her family, largely ignored. Yet it’s her hard work that keeps them in the lifestyle they desire. They don’t seem to appreciate her business acumen, including her father. Really!

Alex is hiding a secret from her past, that confronts her when she and Lucien attend a Salon. Of course this becomes mixed up with their engagement charade. 

Underlying this is the treatment of women who might make worthwhile contributions towards the philosophy of economics in Victorian times.

Where will it all end?

A lively, ironic, of the enemies to lovers type trope.

A Forever ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.